It is quite commonplace for finance majors to consider pursuing a graduate degree in order to gain additional skills and knowledge and to improve one's ability to compete in the world of business. Some career opportunities require an advanced degree as a requirement for employment. Accordingly, a number of our finance graduates go on to pursue the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The MBA is the most recognized graduate degree in the corporate world. MBAs typically command higher salaries and enhanced opportunities for advancement. MBA programs may be general in nature or offer specialized programs or tracks. Prospective students should evaluate alternative programs to identify those that most closely match the student's interests and career goals. Clearly, students should target the "best" program he or she can gain admission to. It should be noted that the more prestigious schools require meaningful work experience in additional to an outstanding academic record and a high score on the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).
Winthrop University offers an MBA program with an optional concentration in Finance.
Graduates from our undergraduate program often decide to go right into our MBA program
upon graduation.
Advantages include:
Familiarity with the faculty
Comfort level with the Winthrop setting (i.e. campus, curriculum, etc.)
Prospect of obtaining a graduate assistantship, which provides a stipend in addition
to a tuition waiver
Others decide to pursue an MBA at another campus.
This alternative provides:
Exposure to different faculty
Exposure to a different college environment
Ability to market oneself as having a degree from two different universities
Clearly, the decision to pursue a graduate degree and where to apply is personal. This decision requires a great deal of homework and self-assessment. Your Winthrop faculty and staff are willing and prepared to help you work through this process.
Those interested in pursuing a career in higher education will need a Ph.D. One may choose to enter a Ph.D. program upon receiving one's undergraduate degree or enter a program after a few years of work experience. The Ph.D. is the "gold standard" for college professors and typically requires 3 or more years of course work followed by an accepted dissertation on a topic of the student's choice. Substantial research must be conducted and the dissertation must be well-written and defended orally. Today, a Ph.D. is required for employment as an Assistant Professor at most colleges and universities.
Going to law school represents another option for our Finance graduates. The combination of a sound business education coupled with a law degree is quite compelling and marketable. This combination prepares one to advance up the corporate ladder or to pursue opportunities with law firms or to open one's own law practice.
Again, students should target the best law school he or she can gain admittance to. The key is to finish undergraduate school with a high GPA. An attractive score on the LSAT (Law School Admission Test) is also required.
